Government Shutdown Looms as House, Senate Stand Firm on Issue of Obamacare

All signs are continuing to point to a government shutdown by midnight tonight.

At issue is Congress’s inability to pass a temporary government spending bill, largely due to the House of Representatives not wanting to fund the Affordable Care Act. The disagreement on ObamaCare funding appears that it will lead to a partial government shutdown, beginning with hundreds of thousands of government workers likely being sent home from work without pay.

Late last week, the U.S. Senate returned the emergency spending proposal back to the house, with the clear message that it would not support any House version that removes funding for the Affordable Care Act. In response, the House on Sunday passed a revised version that includes two amendments to the Senate bill. One delays ObamaCare for a year and the other repeals the law’s medical device tax. The lower chamber also passed a bill to pay the military on time should a government shutdown occur. In response, Senate leaders reiterated their stance that they would not support a bill that kills funding for ObamaCare. And even if the bill cleared the Senate, President Obama has said he would veto it.

The chamber has several last-minute options to avoid a government shutdown. One option is a so-called “clean” spending bill, which would keep open the government for a few days until Congress agrees on a longer-term plan.

Right now, the House bill covers government spending through Dec. 15, while the Senate bill goes through Nov. 15.

Meanwhile, Chautauqua County’s representative released a statement on Sunday, saying he would be willing to support a bill that includes some funding for the Affordable Care Act – on one condition.

Congressman Tom Reed (R-Corning) said that he would vote to keep the government open if the Senate leadership and the President repeal the special treatment under Obamacare that was secured for Members of Congress and their DC insider friends.

Reed said that he has introduced a measure that repeals the special exemption clause so that all Americans are treated fairly under the President’s health care law.